GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on July 13th when a CME is expected to pass close to Earth. NASA and NOAA models of the CME give different results. NASA predicts a glancing blow, NOAA a clean miss. Either way, a close encounter could disturb Earth's magnetic field and produce high latitude auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
SOMETHING FLARE-Y THIS WAY COMES: A big new sunspot is emerging over the sun's northeastern limb, and it is crackling with solar flares. The strongest so far, an M6-class explosion on July 11th (1808 UT), saturated pixels in the telescope system onboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
The extreme ultraviolet flash ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, creating a shortwave radio blackout over North America (map) and doppler-shifting the frequency of America's WWV time-standard radio transmissions (data).
In total, this active region has produced 5 M-class solar flares in the past 12 hours. An X-class flare may be in the offing. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
VENUS AT MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus is shining like a beacon in the twilight sky--and this week it is at maximum brightness. Jeff Dai photographed the second planet from Nanjing tulou, Fujian, China:
"Venus is dazzling," says Dai. "The planet's week of maximum brightness coincides with another luminous event. The fireflies in southern China are very active right now. Many of them can be seen in the picture."
According to JPL's Horizons ephemeris, Venus peaks in brightness on July 12th and 13th at magnitude -4.71. That's almost 200 times brighter than a 1st magnitude star. It might even be bright enough to cast shadows.
Bonus: Got a backyard telescope? Point it at Venus. Like the Moon, Venus has phases, and at the moment it is a beautifully slender crescent. Take a look!
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AMBER BUMBLEBEE SPACE PENDANT: Bumblebees don't usually fly so high. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this one to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here it is floating 115,158 feet above California's Sierra Nevada:
You can have it for $179.95. This bee is made of genuine Baltic Amber with a sterling silver exoskeleton. The rich Cognac-colored pendant measures 3/4 inch and comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain.
The students are selling these unique pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the bumblebee in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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